Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — Nigeria’s leading labour centre, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government demanding the immediate withdrawal of a controversial circular enforcing a “No Work, No Pay” policy and the stoppage of salaries for health workers, warning of nationwide labour resistance if its demands are not met.
The ultimatum, communicated in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja and jointly signed by TUC President Comrade Festus Osifo and Secretary-General Comrade N.A. Toro, was directed at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. It centres on a recent directive from the ministry that seeks to implement a “No Work, No Pay” regime and halt the salaries of members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) through the Federal Government’s payroll system — the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) — effective January 2026.
The TUC described the circular, signed by the Director of Hospital Services, as “reckless, authoritarian and confrontational”, asserting that it not only undermines ongoing negotiations between the government and health sector unions but also reflects a punitive approach to industrial relations. “You cannot negotiate with workers on one hand and unleash punishment with the other. This circular is not policy; it is intimidation, and Congress will not accept it,” the labour centre stated.
In its formal communication, the TUC argued that the stoppage of salaries for JOHESU members — who have been engaged in industrial action — is unjust and harmful, particularly against the backdrop of Nigeria’s persistent economic hardship, rising inflation and the pressures faced by frontline health workers. The union emphasised that targeting workers who are operating within an overstretched healthcare system amounts to an abuse of state machinery.
The core of the dispute lies in the government’s assertion of its authority to suspend pay for striking workers, a position that TUC rejects as being inconsistent with established principles of industrial relations. Labour leaders contend that withdrawing salaries in this manner is a form of coercion that could provoke wider unrest across sectors, undermining constructive dialogue and breaching long-standing labour protocols.
TUC’s ultimatum is clear: the circular must be withdrawn unconditionally, all affected salaries restored, and negotiations resumed within seven days of the statement’s release. Failure to comply, the union warned, will compel organised labour to mobilise workers across various sectors for collective action.
The union has placed its nationwide structures on high alert, instructing affiliates as well as state councils in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to remain on standby pending further directives. This signals an escalation of labour readiness that could lead to coordinated industrial responses, should the ultimatum expire without government action.
The stand-off comes amid ongoing tension between organised labour and government entities over labour rights, salary conditions and welfare issues. Health workers, particularly members of JOHESU, have been in dispute with the government since late 2025, with strikes and work stoppages over unmet demands and challenging working conditions. The government’s “No Work, No Pay” approach marks an intensification of enforcement tactics that labour leaders argue could set a troubling precedent for future negotiations with federal workers.
Labour experts have noted that the use of IPPIS — an electronic payroll system introduced to streamline federal wage payments — in this context is seen by unions as weaponised against workers rather than serving its intended administrative function. Organised labour groups have repeatedly expressed concerns that punitive use of payroll systems could undermine trust and fuel further disputes across the federal civil service.
If the government does not accede to the TUC’s demands within the stipulated timeframe, the union has indicated that mass resistance and coordinated collective action may follow. While the statement did not specify the nature of potential industrial actions, labour analysts suggest that such measures could include general strikes, protests, or other work stoppages that might affect multiple sectors of the economy.
Organised labour in Nigeria has historically played a significant role in shaping national policy and responding to government decisions perceived as unfriendly to workers’ welfare. Previous ultimatums over issues ranging from fuel price policies to pension fund governance have, at times, led to prolonged negotiations or public demonstrations.
For now, the unfolding standoff places intense pressure on government officials to weigh the political and social ramifications of persisting with the “No Work, No Pay” directive, particularly as public sentiment and labour solidarity could influence broader national discourse on labour rights and economic policy.
As the seven-day window progresses, stakeholders from labour, government and civil society will be closely watching developments, each aware that the resolution of this dispute may shape industrial relations dynamics in Nigeria for months to come.
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